A FEM Based Numerical-Experimental Study for Determining Strength Properties by Micro Indentation of a Metal Matrix Composite

The recently developed indentation techniques are awfully advantageous as they are performing in determination of hardness and local elasticity modulus for particular conditions; also they are being able to deal with small sample sizes. This technique is well used to characterize mechanical properties as hardness, elasticity and creep for coating thin layers. Experimental comparison of common nano and micro scales for hardness evaluation has been performed on metal samples and discussed in details in the literature review [1-3]. In fact, it was well detailed that instrumented indentation was found advantageous in both repeatability and a number of measured parameters over classical hardness methods for different materials. As far as thin materials are being very used in various industrial fields, the mechanical characterization moves to micro level scale, with micro-indentation tests of thin films and from Newton -to- micro Newton for loading conditions. A big step forward has been reached for load-depth monitoring during loading and unloading in indentation cycle. Nowadays, hardness and Young’s modulus can be easily defined using Oliver-Pharr [4-5] equations based on a micro scratch test of a very thin film. In this paper an experimental study is conducted and has been validated with a numerical FE model based on a micro indentation test of a metal matrix composite material 110A, used in aeronautic applications.